And so Helen Ward"s duty came to her, the blessedness and helpfulness of being needed; when Lois went to her new home, Helen would be necessary to her uncle, and to be necessary would save her life from hardness.
There need be no thought of occupation now. When Mr. Dale heard the news, he said his congratulations were not only for Lois and Gifford, but for Helen, and after that for Ashurst.
A genuine Ashurst engagement was a great thing, and the friends of the young people received it in their several ways. Dr. Howe was surprised, but disposed to make the best of it. "This is always the way," he said, with his big, jolly laugh: "a man brings up his girls, and then, just as soon as they get old enough to amount to something and be a comfort to him, some other man comes along and carries them off. What? Mind, now, Gifford, don"t you go further away than Mercer!"
As for Mrs. Dale, she was delighted. "It is what I have always wanted; it is the one thing I"ve tried to bring about; and if Lois will do as I tell her, and be guided by a wiser head than her own, I have no doubt she will be very reasonably happy."
"Doesn"t a woman expect to be guided by her husband?" Mr. Dale asked.
"When he has sense enough," responded his wife significantly.
Miss Deborah and Miss Ruth were greatly pleased. "Of course they are very young," said Miss Deborah, "but I"ll have an eye to the housekeeping until Lois gets older. Fortunately, they"ll be so far away from dear Adele, she cannot interfere much. Even with the best intentions in the world, a girl"s relations shouldn"t meddle."
"They seem very much in love, sister," said Miss Ruth thoughtfully.
"Well, really, dear Ruth," replied her sister, "you are hardly capable of judging of that; but you happen to be right; they are as much attached as one can expect young people to be."
But Miss Ruth, as she stood that night before her cherry-wood dressing-table, its bra.s.s rings glimmering in the candle-light, opened Mr. Denner"s daguerreotype, and, looking wistfully at the youthful face behind the misty gla.s.s, said softly to herself, "Ah, well, it"s good to be young."
THE END.